COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources

Second Report on the State of Plant Genetic Resources in the Arab Republic of Egypt

March 2007 Note by FAO

This Country Report has been prepared by the national authorities in the context of the preparatory process for the Second Report on the State of World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Report is being made available by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as requested by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. However, the report is solely the responsibility of the national authorities. The information in this report has not been verified by FAO, and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or policy of FAO.

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of FAO.

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 9

CHAPTER 1 THE STATE OF DIVERSITY 11

CHAPTER 2 THE STATE OF IN SITU MANAGEMENT 12

CHAPTER 3 THE STATE OF EX SITU MANAGEMENT 13

3.1 The National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources of Egypt 13 3.2 Botanical Gardens 14 3.3 Other Organizations Participating in the Information Sharing Mechanism 15 3.3.1 The Central Administration For Seed Testing and Certification (CASC) 15 3.3.2 The Central Administration for Seed Production (CASP) 20 3.3.3 Seed Companies 22 3.4 Breeding Programmes 23

CHAPTER 4 THE STATE OF USE 27

CHAPTER 5 THE STATE OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES, TRAINING AND LEGISLATION 29

5.1 National Programmes 29 5.1.1 The National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources of Egypt 29 5.1.2 Other National Programmes 30 5.2 Achievements of the NGB 30 5.2.1 Implementation of the National Agricultural Sustainable Development Plan 30 5.2.2 Establishing NGB Facilities 31 5.2.3 The NGB Activities 32 5.2.4 The NGB consists of the following sections and labs 33 5.3 Training, Publications and Conferences 38 5.4 Legislative Frame Work 38

CHAPTER 6 THE STATE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION 39

CHAPTER 7 ACCESS TO PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING OUT OF THEIR USE, AND FARMERS’ RIGHTS 40 CHAPTER 8 THE CONTRIBUTION OF PGRFA MANAGEMENT TO FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 41

CONCLUSION 42

SOURCES OF INFORMATION 43 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

t
The Egyptian agriculture is facing many challenges, first of all, the limited cultivated area and water supply to provide food for the growing population which exceeded 75 millions in 2006 and secondly to eliminate poverty of the agriculture population by increasing the national agricultural production. t
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Egypt activated the already existed Plant Genetic Resources Programme since 1994. According to the Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003, the National Gene Bank was established to be officially responsible for the conservation and maintenance of plant, animal as well as the micro- organisms genetic resources in the Agricultural Sector in Egypt. t
The activities of the National Gene Bank represent an emergency tool for safeguarding endangered plant genetic resources, to deploy and make available these valuable genetic resources to both public and private breeding and research entities and programmes. t
It is worthy to note here that Egypt has been a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD on June 1992 and ratified it on June 1994, and to the International Treatyon Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture since August 2002 and was ratified in 2004. Treaty sets guidelines for the process of collecting, identifying, evaluating, maintaining and documenting the plant genetic resources. It also defines national obligations for the sustainable use of those resources by each contracting party. t
The National Gene Bank of Egypt was assigned to collect, identify, regenerate, evaluate, conserve and document the plant, animal and microorganism genetic resources in the Agricultural Sector in Egypt. t
The National Gene Bank of Egypt was opened on the sixth of October 2004 to be responsible for the ex situ conservation programme in Egypt and, to be the focal point regarding the coordination between breeding programmes in both public and private sectors, seed supply system and genetic resource programme. t
MALR appointed the NGB to prepare the Second National Report on the Plant Genetic Resources to be included in the Global Plan of Action of the FAO. t
The President of the NGB was selected to represent the Near East Region in the Governing Body of the Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA Treaty. t
There are Four Major Departments related to the NGB activities and 11 Supporting Sections, Labs in addition to the other facilities. t
The cold storage facilities of the NGB contains more than 30 thousand accessions (end of 2006) from the genera and species collected from breeding and research institutions, seed companies, farmers, individuals, international research centers, and from collecting missions. t
During the last two years, 13 thousand genetic resources were identified and characterized, 16 thousand accessions were regenerated. t
More than 8 thousand genetic resources were evaluated. The evaluation of these genetic resources include field, molecular, cytological, chemical, and biochemical evaluation. t
The NGB has documented more than 30 thousand genetic resources in its database. t
The design of cold storage facilities was planned to contain approximately 200 thousand accessions in short, medium (active collection), and long (base collection) storage. t
The NGB cold stores have 335 m3 of cold storage capacity which can include up to 200 000 accessions. These are divided among three cold stores for short, medium (active collection) and for long term storage (core collection). t
In addition to monetary savings from the national budget through completing building up and operating the cold stores in 9 months instead of 5 years with too much less cost (4.6% from estimated cost stated by the international sponsoring organizations), saving the variability and viability of the national genetic resources stocks which was more urgent and critical. t
In addition to the cold stores, 2 modern greenhouses were built and 5 acre field for regeneration was allocated.

8 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Egypt lies between latitudes 22° and 32° to the North of the equator and between longitudes 24° and 37° to the East of Greenwich line. Egypt has a total area of about 1 002 000 sq.km. of which only 4%of the total area, is populated. Egyptian regions are rich in wild plants and landraces which survived for hundreds of years. These landraces and wild relatives are widely adapted to the biotic and abiotic stresses and harsh conditions prevailing in the new reclaimed lands. The Egyptian agriculture is facing many challenges, first of all, the limited cultivated area and water supply to provide food for the growing population which exceeded 75 millions in 2006 and to eliminate poverty in the agriculture population by increasing the national agricultural production. Under the prevailing pressures including desertification, deforestation, erosion, climate changes and the overuse of pesticides and other agrochemicals, many genetic resources are disappearing at unprecedented rate. Furthermore in the past 50 years new uniform crop varieties have replaced many hundreds if not thousands of local varieties and landraces over large areas of production. These new varieties are selected from the same gene pool resulting in the increasing of vulnerability to pests, diseases and the prevailing abiotic stress conditions. This report is the outcome of three workshops held to coordinate between the activities of the National Genetic Resources Programme as represented by the National Gene Bank and Breeding Programmes representatives from the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) Universities, and other research agencies, Private Sector companies in addition to Seed Supply System entities from public and private institutions.

The expected results from this report are: t
Improve Egypt’s ability to make decisions about plant genetic resources; t
Build stronger partnerships among stakeholders in plant genetic resources management within Egypt; t
Increase understanding by Egyptian stakeholders about the status of their plant genetic resources; t
Increase Egypt’s ability to monitor changes in its plant genetic resources over time; t
Improve the quality of information about plant genetic resources status and dynamics; t
Improve the access to and sharing of information about plant genetic resources; and t
Enhance Egypt’s capacity to meet international reporting obligations.

9

COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 1 THE STATE OF DIVERSITY

Egypt farmers have used genetic variation to select and develop new types and forms from the cultivated plant species since thousands of years. Many plant species and types were known and have been utilized along this long period of time. The history of plant domestication provides ample evidence that biodiversity is the humanity’s best defense against poverty, food insecurity and threats to natural resources. The utilization of biological diversity remains the best way to secure the future food needs and to drive the economic and social development of the world’s rapidly growing human population. Despite of the fact that the Egyptian agriculture is very intensive system and use more than 450 thousand tons of true seeds from different field crops and more than 5 000 tons of vegetables seeds excluding the seed of vegetatively propagated crops, some Egyptian farmers still use the seeds of old local varieties, seeds in many places in Egypt which are considered a very rich biodiversity source. It is worthy to note here that Egypt has been a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD on June 1992 and ratified it on June 1994, and to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture since August 2002 which was ratified in 2004. Treaty sets guidelinesfor the process of collecting, identifying, evaluating, maintaining and documenting the plant genetic resources. It also defines national obligations for the sustainable use of those resources by each contracting party. As a top priority, MALR focuses on preserving the national genetic resources and making them available for sustainable agricultural development without compromising biodiversity and biosafety requirements. MALR activated the already existed Plant Genetic Resources Programme since 1994. According to the Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003, the National Gene Bank was established to be responsible for the conservation and maintenance of plant, animal as well as micro-organisms genetic resources in the Agricultural Sector in Egypt. The NGB was opened in the 6th of October 2004. It has short, medium and long range cold storage facilities. MALR has appointed the NGB to be the Focal Point and to represent the Ministry in the International Organizations related to the genetic resources. The report of Developing Information Sharing Mechanism on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action on the National Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, NPGRFA depended on a list of indicators and stakeholders reporting formats and promoting information exchange and strengthening stakeholder cooperation and thereby contributes to enhancing the capacity of Egyptian Programme. The main objectives of this approach are to: t
Promote understanding of PGRFA status and dynamics. t
Allow meaningful analysis of gaps and national priorities. t
Improve decision-making on and planning of available resources. t
Increase visibility of on-going efforts. t
Improve Egypt’s capacity to manage PGRFA information and to meet international reporting requirements.

11 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

CHAPTER 2 THE STATE OF IN SITU MANAGEMENT

To insure that the National Programme benefits directly from this mechanism and the widest possible participation of the National Stakeholders in Egypt, three workshops were held and organized by the NGB from the stakeholders representing breeding programmes, seed supply companies and farmers, and the plant genetic resources programme, NGB. Under the convention of biological diversity, CBD concerning in situ conservation, a programme for in situ conservation including wild and wild relatives of plant genetic resources has been established. Under the law No. 102 of 1983 concerning the protected areas, twenty four protectorates representing about 10% of the total area of Egypt were identified. The following table shows the number of plant species in 14 protected areas which contain plant genetic resources:

TABLE 1 The number of plant species and the nature of the protected areas of Egypt

Recent Assessment of Plant Biodiversity of the Protected Areas of Egypt

No. Name of protected area Type of protected area No. of plant species 1 Abu Glum Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 25 2 Ras Mohammed Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 53 3 Taba Desert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains) 87 4 Nabq Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 40 5 Wadi Allaqi Desert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains) 98 6 Siwa Desert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains) 52 7 Elba Desert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains) 381 8 Ahrash Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 12 9 Ashtoum El-Gamil Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 6 10 Burullus Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 192 11 Zaraneek Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 152 12 Omayed Desert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains) 150 13 Wadi El-Rayan Waterland (Marine, Lakes & Riverine) 38 14 Wadi El-Gimal Desert (Highlands, Valleys & Plains) 92 Total 1 378

Source: Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, 2006

The above mentioned in situ conservation sites are mainly managed by technical experts. Much more efforts are needed in the future to protect plant genetic diversity in different areas, especially at the Northern Coast, in Oases, Sinai, and in other remote areas.

12 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 3 THE STATE OF EX SITU MANAGEMENT

3.1 The National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources of Egypt

The National Gene Bank of Egypt was opened on the sixth of October 2004 to be responsible for the ex situ conservation programme and to be the focal point regarding the coordination of breeding programmes in both public and private sectors, seed supply system, and genetic resource programme.

National Gene Bank Organization: There are four major departments related to the NGB activities, they are: t
Field Crops. t
Horticultural Crops. t
Animal Genetic Resources. t
Agriculture-relatedmicro-organisms.

The National Gene Bank Organization also comprises the following sections, labs, and facilities: 1. The Genetic resources conservation section 2. Seed Viability Testing and Regeneration Section. 3. Genetic Resources Evaluation Section. 4. Documentation and Information Section. 5. Taxonomy Section. 6. Chemical Analysis Lab. 7. Molecular Genetics Lab. 8. Tissue Culture Lab. 9. Cytogenetics Lab. 10. NGB Farm. 11. Green houses. 12. NGB Herbarium 13. Small Botanical Garden

The cold storage facilities of the NGB contains more than 30 thousand accessions (end of 2006) from the following genera and species

TABLE 2 Number of Genera and Species in the NGB

Crop Genra Species Field Crops 48 111 Vegetables 45 56 Medicinal 133 173 Wild 141 227 Trees & Shrubs 45 63 Total 412 630

Source: NGB, 2006

13 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

These accessions are collected from breeding and research institutions, seed companies, farmers, individuals, international research centers, and from collecting missions. During the last two years 30 thousand genetic resources were identified and characterized, 16 thousand accessions were regenerated. The NGB has documented more than 30 thousand genetic resources on its database. More than 8 thousand genetic resources were evaluated. The evaluation of these genetic resources included field, molecular, cytological, chemical, and biochemical evaluation. The design of cold storage facilities was planned to contain approximately 200 thousand accessions in short, medium (active collection), and long (base collection) storage. All the information obtained during field and lab evaluation are distributed among the concerned parties. In addition to conserving accessions of true seeds the NGB has tissue culture storage facility.

TABLE 3 The Planned Cold Storage Capacity

Storage Type True seeds accessions Tissue Culture

Short Period Storage 78 710 1 225 3-5 Years Medium Period Storage 127 450 2 450 5-7 Years Long Period Storage 169 680 2 450 7-10 Years

Source: NGB, 2004

3.2 Botanical Gardens

In addition to the establishment of the NGB as the ex situ major conservation facility, there are several botanical gardens which were established during the last 120 years. These botanical gardens belong and are supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.

TABLE 4 List of Botanical Gardens in Egypt

No. Name of Present Area Date No. No. No. of Botanical Garden (Feddan)* of Estab. of F. of G. Species

1 Ain Shams Univ., Fac. of Sci. 3 1 953 114 750 1 200 2 Alex. Univ. Fac. of Sci. 2 1 942 500 3 Cairo Univ., Fac. of Agr. 15 1 947 31 64 80 4 Orman B.G., Giza 28 1 873 90 520 600 5 Zohryia, Gezera, Giza 8 1 868 57 143 442 6 Quba Palace, Cairo 124 1 960 72 551 7 Zoo Garden, Giza 80 1 890 68 208 342 8 Manial Balace, Giza 61 150 239 9 Agriculture Museum, Dokky, Giza 1 937 32 73 94 10 Azbakyia Garden 10 1 867 41 83 800 11 Antoniadis Garden, Alex. 45 1 860 62 12 Al-Nozha Garden, Alex. 300 BC. 13 Rose Garden, Alex. 5 1928 14 Aswan Garden 17 1928 59 97 371

* Feddan= 4 200 m2 Source: MALR, 2006

14 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Several herbaria of dried native plants (specimen) can be found in Egypt. The Department of Botany of the Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Ain Shams University and in the Agriculture Museum, where MALR is maintaining a very big collection among other herbaria in Egypt. The herbarium serves as a reference for the identification of the several groups of native germplasm. It is worthy to note that the property of the different accessions of genetic resources in the NGB is respected under the rules of the intellectual property rights.

3.3 Other Organizations Participating in the Information Sharing Mechanism

3.3.1 The Central Administration For Seed Testing and Certification (CASC)

The Ministry of Agriculture had the initiative in implementing market – economy policy in the agricultural sector, and seed production activities were separated from the Central Administration for Seed Certification (CASC) the agency responsible for seed quality control, seed legislation and state policy enforcing agency, this to fulfill the Ministry planning to withdraw gradually from seed production and to be responsible for control, legislation, indicative policy setting activities. The CASC includes directorates and offices for the following activities: Seed and Seedling Field Inspection – Control Plot Testing – Seed Viability Testing – Seed Health Testing – Checking and Rechecking – Arbitration – Seed and Seedling Certification – Seed Import and Export Control – Market Control and Seed Legislation Enforcement – Extension and Training – Licensing – Variety and Breeder’s Rights – Variety Testing. Co-operation Projects and Investments – in addition to a Seed Certification Directorate in each governorate. CASC is the technical secretariat of Variety Registration and Crop Seed Committees, in Addition other specialized councils and their Sub–committees, (e.g. Seed and Cotton Councils). The supportive organization of CASC consists of five GeneralDirectorates namely: Field Inspection, Seed Certification, Cotton Gins and Oil Mills, Seed Testing and Certification in Governorates, and Measures and Seed Sector Development. In addition to the five general directorates on the central level, there are 22 seed certification directorates in governorates which perform all activities in the head office, seed testing stations which cover all the geographical regions of Egypt, field inspection sections in all governorates, and two locations for field quality control plot testing (pre – and post – control). CASC is playing an efficient role in training public and private farm’s staff, applying seed extension methodologies, participating in seed international organizations, and applying the international seed certification norms, aiming to provide high quality seed to the national agriculture and safeguard the potential of the Egyptian agriculture through applying seed quality measures and enforcing the legislative framework on both, local, and imported seed supplies. CASC is the designated seed certification authority and performs seed lab and field testing for certified seed and lab testing for the uncertified seed. The following table shows the number of seed trading, production, seed processing, potato grading stations, and potato cold stores in Egypt, 2006:

TABLE 5 Seed Trading, Production, Seed Processing, Potato Grading Stations, and Potato Cold Stores in Egypt,2006

Activity No. of Licenses Seed Trading Companies & Outlets 11 675 Seed Production Companies 178 Seed Processing Plants 68 Potato Grading Stations 23 Potato Cold Stores 102

Source: CASC, 2006

The largest seed producing companies are listed in table 6. 15 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

TABLE 6 List of largest Seed Production Companies in Egypt

No. Company Name Post Address Responsible Person Telephone

1 National Seed Company 15 EL Hassan St. Dokki - Cairo Dr. Essam Gheith 3370307 Cereals, and Vegetable Seeds P.O Box 316 Dokki - Cairo 3375998 2 EL Ahram Beverages Company 3 Thrwat St. - Bein El Sarayah Eng. Ashraf Mostafa 3370055 Barley Giza - Cairo Kamal 3312300 3482215

3 Misr Hytech Int. Seed Company 2 Nageeb Mahfouz from Abbas El Eng. Hisham Mostafa 2755041 Cereals, Legumes, Vegetable Seeds Akkad St. Farag 2755042 Nasr City - Cairo 2755043 4 Ismail Taher Haraz 13 a Ahmed Maher St. Bab El khalk - Eng. Abdel Latif Haraz 3528799 Vegetable Seeds Cairo 5110458 5 Suez Canal Commercial 15 El Giza St. Giza - Cairo Eng. Mohamed Fathi 5729136 Development Company B.O Box 196 Orman 5729108 Vegetable Seeds 6 Int. Company for Investment El Nour St. ( Bein El Ganain ) Eng. Gamal El Dein Yousif 088 - 333517 and Commerce Assuit Mohamed 7 Tanta Agrarian Reform Dept. Aziz Fahmy St. - Tanta Eng. Mostafa Aly Sodany Cereals 8 El Fouly Agr. Company Shawany St. - Talah - El Menia Eng. Mohamed Khairy Fouly Cereals 9 Agro - Food Limited 3 Kambeiz St. from Mosaddak Eng. Salah Hegazy 3484252 Potato , Vegetable Seeds , Garlic Dokki - Cairo 10 General Co- Op. for Potato Producers 101a El Kasr El Eini St. Cairo Eng. Hassan Mohamed 3541339 Potato Seeds - El Bakoury 3544713 11 El Safa National Company Heneida Commercial Center Tower Eng. Mohamed Ibrahim Farag 011 - 355001 for Commerce and Agr. Develop. No. 1 Cereals and Potato Seeds The Sixth of October - Giza 12 El Mabrouk Seed Company Semouha - Doctors Building - Eng. Mohamed Kenawy Potato Seeds Alexandria 13 Nile for Storage and Crop Handling 55 B - Cournish El Nile - Gold Towers Dr. Mahmoud Sidky 3646615 - Company - Maadi Dr. Ahmed Salim 3643745 Cereals & Vegetable Seeds Cairo

14 Developed Group for Investment 9 Ibrahim El Oraby , New Nozha 2990346 ( Idea Group ) Cairo Maize and vegetable Seeds 15 Misr Pioneer Seed Company 9 Army Forces Buildings , Nasr City - Eng. Mostafa Gamal 4181492 Cereals , Maize Fodder, Vegetable Seeds Cairo 4181636 16 Agroseed Damanhour 1 Ismail El Habrouk St. . Damanhour Dr. AdeelAly Rady 045 - 310100 - Seed Company 045 - 313439 Maize, Cereals and legume Seeds 17 Delta for Seed Production and 43 Adel Baki St. El Hasana Dr. El Said Hassanien 050 - 797180 Agricultural Development El Mansoura Cereals and Legume Seeds 18 Agr. Co-Op for Seed Production, El Awkaf Building,El Temehy Salah Mohamed El Newehy 050 - 360985 Handling and Marketing El Mansoura Cereals 19 Agricultural Service Company for El Maragh,Sohag Ibrahim Said Hanafy Seed Production and Distribution Cereals 20 Imparato Egypt Km #59 Alexandria -Abo El Matameur Hosam Salah Badawy 03 - 5865528 Potato Seeds Road - Behera 21 Kafr El Dawar Common Co-op. El Islam St. Kafr El Dawar - Behera Galal Abd El Aziz Cereals 22 El Zahraa for Agr.Inputs El Hamedia -Minia El Kamh - Sharkia Sherif Agrama 055-660038 Cereals 2725562 23 Technical Office for Agr. Materials 26 El Dokki St. - Giza Hatem Hussien El Shamy 3497127 Vegetable Seeds 3358101 24 High Seed Company Shabas Omeir - Qafin - KFS Aiman El Said Rady 047-412106 Cereals 047-412377 25 Arab Seed Company 10 Saad Zaghloul St. Assiut Ahmed Mohamed Zein 088-346615 Cereals 26 Daltex Company for Agr. 12th Area, 4th Neighborhoad Taha Fahmy El Etreby 3044424 Potato and Vegetable Seeds 6 of October- Giza 3050505 27 The Egyptian Agr. Company 18 El Refae Square from Aly Hassan Hemida 3494119 for Seed Production - EGASEED Mosaddak St. - Dokki - Cairo 3351152 Maize, Cereals, Legume and Vegetable Seeds 16 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

No. Company Name Post Address Responsible Person Telephone

28 Egyptian Company for Seeds,Oils 45 El Gomhoria St. Mohamed Shaban 3918714 and Chemicals - Shaban El Korma Opera Square, Cairo El Korma 3915276 Vegetable and Ornamental Seeds 29 El Shalma for Seed Production Zawiet Salem, Abo El Matamere Khalid Zaki 045-402920 and Trade Company Behera Potato and Cereals 30 Fine - Seeds International 20 Abul Mawahib Square Eng. Ahmed Yassin Hashim 3055995 Maize, Cereals and Vegetable Seeds Mohandessin - Cairo 31 Extra - Enter Seed Company El Takwa St. ,Abo Korkas Abdel Rahman Zaki 086-481155 Maize, Cereals El Menia 32 Commercial Company for Agr. El Kordi St. ,El Ameria Mohamed Atwa 03-4480680 Development and Seed Production Alexandria Vegetable Seeds and Cereals 33 Central Co-Op for Agrarian Ragheb St. El Menia Abul Saoud El Sherif 086-323608 Reform-El Menia 086-322276 Cereals and Legume Seeds 34 United Company for Seed 14 El Khodary St. from 6th of October, Aly Shady 086-320402 Production and Distribution El Menia Maize, Cereals 35 Seed Production and Marketing Co-op Abo Nour El Dien-Belkas Ibrahim Ismail Awad Cereals and Legume Seeds Dakahlia 36 El Fouad for Seed Production 6th Area , 3rd Neighboard Dr. Ahmed Fouad 086 - 750540 and Distribution Building No. 19 - 6 of October - Giza Maize, Cereals and Vegetable Seeds 37 Pure Seed Company 82 Mahmoud Abdel Razik St. Hammad El Tony Maize, Cereals medical and aromatic Seeds El Menia 38 Kamal Kamel Khalifa Harb El Moahda Road, Mohamed Ahmed Hamad 045 - 313750 Company Ezbet Shoeir, Damanhour Potato 39 Eastern Company for Bahnabay - Zagazik Mohamed shafik Seed Production Cereals 40 Danton for Seeds Units 9and 21 , New Nubaria WassimGhali shnoda 2416036 and Agr. Services 2484603 Cereals , Maize, Potato and Vegetable Seeds 41 Mallawi Common Co - op El Erphani St. Mallawi Fathalla Khafagi 086 - 652116 Cereals 42 Mohamed Farid Gaara 74 Ahmed Maher St. Bab El Khalk Mohamed Abo Khatwa 5113643 Vegetable Seeds Cairo 43 International and Food Supplies 28 Mosaddak St. Dokki, Cairo Mamdouh El Saied 46193 Chipse 36194 Potato Seeds 44 Tanta for Linseed and Meit Hebeish El Bahria Mohamed Khalil Kandele 040-332484 Oil Company Tanta 040 - 334871 Linseed 45 Abul Fadl Agr. Consultancies Resthouse No. 6 -Nubaseed Area Ahmed Abul Fadl 040 - 346852 Company Nubaria 045 - 633064 Cereals and Vegetable Seeds 46 Dar El Salam Import and Export Taha Hussein St.Maghagha Menia Hagag Abdel Azim 086 - 551944 Company 2516618 Maize 47 United Company for Seed Production Agrarian Tower ,KFS Dr. Youssef Salli 047 - 230211 and Distribution and Agr. Input Cereals 48 Sinai Fresh for Investment 239 El Horria St. Said Ali El Sammak 064 - 341256 and Agr. Development Foreigners District,Ismailia 064 - 341255 Potato, Cereals and Vegetable Seeds 49 El Nile Seed Company 29 El Zahraa St. Dokki - Cairo Dr. Mamdouh Younis 3365158 Maize, Cereals 3365159 50 Fekry Said Saleh Abul Gheit - El Quanater Road Fouad Seliman El Abd 4770594 Potato Seeds Kaluobia 2219663 51 General Agr. Co-Op for 132 El Tahrir St. Dokki -Cairo Said Aly El Shamy 3371062 Rice and Cereal Producers Cereals 52 Agri - Tech Company for Building No. 70 -Neighborhood No. 1 Ahmed Wadie Sadik 055 - 972156 Agr. Development New Salhia Cereals , and Vegetable Seeds 53 El Salam Company Shendeid -Eitai El Baroud Ahmed El Saadani for Agr. Development El Behera Potato Seeds

17 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

No. Company Name Post Address Responsible Person Telephone

54 Agr. Products and Research Centre El Azhar University - Assuit Dr. Farghali Galal Younis El Azhar University - Assuit Cereals 55 Egyptian Agencies Store 3 Menshat El Kataba Magdi Murad Ibrahim 3921839 ( Sharibac ) Kasr El Neil - Cairo 3921988 Potato 56 Man Trade (Mohamed Ashraf Noah) 18, Abdel Latif El Sofani St. Mona Abdel Moneim Hashim 03/540195 Cereals, Legumes Sedi Gaber - Alexandria 5411486 57 Mervat Mohamed Mansour Moot, El Dakhla, Hamdy Abdalla Mohamed Cereals, Legumes and onion New Valley 58 Sandoz for Seed Prod. Osman Buildings behin Saad Mahmoud Elmetwally 050/311908 Cereals, Crop and vegetable Seed El Mansoura Staduim

59 El Ghaish for Seed and 23 July St. Bassion Imad Shebl 040/741396 Pesticides Trade Gharbia Governorate 040/345583 F. Crop Seeds 60 El Watany for Cotton 98 El Tahrir St. Dokki Adel Hussein 3368437 and Agr. Development 3368432 Cereals and Legumes 61 Islamic Co. for Plant Protection 272 El Gomhoria St. Ahmed Mohamed 045/702093 Cereals and Crop Seeds Hosh Eissa, Behera Homeid 62 El Manbar for Agr. El Sharkawy Farm, Kafer El Ziatt Mohamed Fathi el Sheikh 040/565248 Cereals, Crop and Vegetable Seeds Gharbia 040/319729 63 Nuba Seed KM # 75 - Dessert Road Magdi Aly Ibrahim 045/639208 F. Crop and Vegetable Seeds Nubaria 045/639018 64 El Egeizy for Industry El Sadat City, 708 Third Mohamed Ibrahim 049/600730 Potato, F. Crop and Vegetable Seeds Neighbrhood - El Menoufia Ahmed 5702645 65 Mekka for Trade 5 Ahmed Maher St. Bab El khalk Abdel Ghafar Ismail El Said 3958084 (Ismail El Bamby Sons) Cairo 5129324 F. Crop and Vegetable Seeds 66 Seed Prod. Unit Abeis Exp. Farm, Alex Dr. Amein El Said Aly 03/5709558 Faculity of Agr. Alex. F. Crop 67 El Ahram for Land New Salhia, El Sharkia Helmy Sayed Abdel Halim 016/201063 Reclamation 201062 Vegetable Seeds Potato and Peanuts. 68 International Center for Agencies 69 Shehab St., El-Mohandseen - Giza Kamel Saied El Sayed 3453172 3453173 69 Flour Egypt Trade & Marketing Company 90 El Gomhoria St., El Sawsan Tower, Aly Ezzat Gaafar 050-217141 El Mansoura 050-217142 70 El-Shaimaa for Export & Import KM # 58 – Agricultural Road – Abdellah Mostafa El Mesarea 045-346147 Damanhour - Behera 71 Nahdet Masr for Agricultural Industrying 70 Gamet El Dewal El Arabia St. – Mahmoud Samy Abdel Meged 048-385413 (Essa – before) Mohandseen - Giza 048-384778 72 Sama for Import & Export Company Agricultural Road – Kafr El Zayiat - Mostafa Kamel Ashosh 040-451797 (Amin Aboul Fath) Gharbia 73 Abdel Aziz Fahim Morshed Company Daraib Aqaria St. – Kom Hamada - Mohamed Abdel Meged El 045-681347 Behera Nahhas 74 General United for Horticultural Crops MALR Building – 3rd Roof – Dokki - Giza Zakaria Mohamed Ahmed 3371034 Producers & Exporters 3613455 75 Doarf for Import & Export Company 47 Soltan Housaein St. Bab Sharq – Mohamed Hasan Gouda 03-4832505 Alex. 03-4481214 76 Vegetables & Fruits Marketing 64 Slah Salem St. – Qaraaly Tower - Yahia Hasan Khattab 064-336920 Co-op – Ismailia Ismailia 064-357829 77 Maba for Import & Export Company Monshaet Mehana – Demotoh Mohamed Atef Mohamed Zaky 045-682222 Mokhtar Abo Basha Kom Hamada - Behera 045-681095 78 International Company for Agricultural Crops 79 Ek Gaysh St. - Elmansoura Mohamed Talaat El Kelany 050-311170 050-312355 79 El Mansoura for Agriculture El Qods El Shareef St. Ahmed Maher St. Ramadan Ahmed Mosa 050-212469 Development Company El Mansoura 80 El Safa for Import & Export Company Negela Way – Kafr Zayat – Kafr Bolen Rezk Fathy El Sharkawy 03-4840205 Ahmed El Qahwagy Co. Kom Hamada - Behera 045-674095 81 El alamia for Agriculture Industrial Location A2 – 10th ramadn Ibrahem Ez El Regal 015-362967 Development Company (Farm Frits Masr) City 015-362956 El Sharkia 82 Masr Embex for Import & Export Company 49 Tawfeek Buildings – Nasr City El Saied Awad Ibrahem 2625306 2637118 83 El Sharkia for Modern Seeds & Agriculture Co. Megawara 1 – Block 1 – New Salhia – Fathy Yosuf Fathy Sharkia 18 84 Nana for Cooling Company Agricultural Road – Etay - Behera Kareem Ibrahem Esa Nana 045-683100 Ahmed Abdalla Nana 045-680242 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

No. Company Name Post Address Responsible Person Telephone

85 Maamonia for Import & Export Company 5 Oraby St. – Manshyah – Alexandria Mohamed Abellah Yaqout 03-4825745 03-4820791 86 El Masria for Crops Producing, Marketing & 346 Faysal St. – Haram - Giza Sheref ShamseDin 5830281 Exporting (Amibak) 2, 3, 4 87 Faraena for Seed Producing & Agriculture Abo Tawkel-Bahr St. Gomhoria St. Ibrahem Ismail Awad 050-220013 Development Company Mansoura 050-220014 88 Cotton, MALR Building – 4th Roof – Dokki - Abel Aziz Yones Soliman 3493746 Giza 89 Nile Agriculture Development Company 1 Khofo St. Esbates – Haram (5th roof) Mohamed Taha Mahmoud 3840437

90 Faraena for Seed Producing (New Seed) Nahdah – Fangary 3 – Amria – Atef Abdallah Mohamed 3466225 Alexandria 012-3455166 91 Gold Seed Company Wageeh Abazah St. Menia El Qamh - Ghareeb Hamdy Shehata 055-667356 Sharkia 92 El Fath for Trade & Export Company Dima Way–Abo Elghar–Kafr Elzayat - Khaled Mahmoud Abdel Aal 012-3428647 Gharbia 93 Friend Co. (Asdekaa Company for Farms› Nazlet Aly – Gohaina - Sohag Mohamed Ahmed Abdel 093-760660 Rahem 093-771809 94 Agency 2000 for Agriculture Development Lobnan Tower – Galaa St. Aga - Ashraf Mohamed Saied 050-447157 Dakahlia 050-452442 95 El Masria Company for Seed & Oil Rasheedy St. Menia El Qamh - Sharkia Salah Mostafa El Gendy 050-87211= Ibrahem El Hosaeiny 055-661397 96 International Nature for 23 Khaled ebn El Waled St. Haram - Giza Mohamed Ahmed Fadel 3841657 Import & Export Company 084-700841 97 Rehan for Seed Producing Company Abo Ziadah – Desok – Kafr El Sheikh Saif Ahmed Abdel Khaleq 047-568591 (Waeil Rehan) 047-554802 98 Masr for Agriculture Development Company Ahmed Maher Building No.2 – Bab El Melad Naeem Tawfeek 5109038 (Ismail Ezaby Co.) Khalk 2054244 Cairo 99 Agricultural North Delta (Alpha Seed) No. 8 Awqaf Buildings – A Way Dr. Mohamed Harfoush 047-234867 047-230599 100 Marwa Seed for Agricultural Crops Ekhlas St. Monshaet Abbas – Seedy Ragab Mohamed Metawea 040-372241 Salem 074-722801 101 Masr High Quality Company Ahmed Maher St. Manfalot - Assuit Zainab Gomaa Metwaly Sayed for Seed Producing 102 Gold Land Company (Ard El Zahab) 18 Safa We Marwa St. El Salam Location Hasan Ahmed Mohamed Hasan 055-292496 Zakazik - Sharkia 055-235329 103 North Saied Company for Agricultural 346 Faysal St. Haram - Giza Maher Hasan Saqr 5878254 Developing & Production 5878246, 915 104 Engineers Company for Seed Production Tafahna ElAshraf – Meet Ghamr - Mostafa Goda Omar 050-875634 Dakahlia 105 El Wady Company for Seed Production Building 4 Neqabat – Remaia Sq.– Mohamed Aly Abo Aly 3847512 & Agricultural Developing Haram -Giza 106 El Badr Company for Agricultural Services 6 Masaken Delta St. Zagazig - Sharkia Mohamed Fetoh Aly 055-234828 & Seed Production 055-610724 107 Green Valley Seed Company 4 Mahmoud Abdel Aziz St. Ard El Hesham Mostafa Farag 4198450 Lewaa-Giza 4198460 108 El Shark Company for Seed Production Berlant St. – New Assara – Ezbet El El Sayed Hussien Abdel Fattah 2803143 & Distribution Nakhl 4916048 109 Delta El Wady Company for Agricultural 17 Hasan Abdellah – Kafr Shokr - Ahmed mamdouh 013-510481 Crops Seed Production & Marketing Qalubia Abdel Maksoud 110 Mohamed Abdallah El Deeb Company for El Amriah – Mahalet Kattour Way - Adel Aly Baiomy Shalaby 040-2062212 Seed Production Gharbia 040-2060333 111 Atomic Power Agency Anshas – Belbees - Sharkiah Dr. Abdel Shafy Ibrhem Ragab (Plant Research Section) 112 Qudsy Sayed (Nebal Hasan Ahmed) 39 Masged St. Monshaet Sadat - Mohamed Ahmed Lotfy Rashed 055-2350248 Zagazig 113 El Arabia Company for Agricultural Developing 10 Ahmed Maher Sq. Babel Khalk - Fawzy Maarouf Abozeed 5124122 Cairo 5118591 114 El Faraena Company for International 40 El Horyiah Way St. - Alexandria Yahia Mohamed Attyia 03-4862511 Marketing & Trade 03-4868313 115 Agricultural Central Co-op - Assuit Zeraein Building – Mohafza St. - Assuit Abdel Rahem Darwesh 088-332739 088-337263 116 National Sonak Company for Trade Agricultural Road – East of Shobra - Mostafa Mohamed Mostafa 045-344765 Damanhor 045-340733 117 Toskka Company for Seed Production & Trade Mohandsy El Ray Buildings – Bani Souif Ahmed Ibrahem Ismail 082-601338

19 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

No. Company Name Post Address Responsible Person Telephone

118 Agricultural El Mohamdes Company Kafr Saad El Balad – Sror Zidan House- Yousuf Mostafa Al Fanagily 050-2150439 For Seed Production Demiat 119 Alex Get for Export & Import (Mostafa Behery) Agricultural Road – Behind Kobry Etay Gamal Bakr El Deeb 045-432551

120 El Tayseer Company For Import & Export Building No. 32 – Rabaa Object - Nasr Gamal El Sayed Aashour 4143734 City 4140125 121 Al Amal Company for Seed Production Galaa St. Abo Gensho – Abshway - Badawy Mohamed Aly Abo Hef 084-711021 Faium 084-710865 122 Anba Magar KM # 92 Desert Road – Wady Natron Dr. Nabil Sobhy Farag 048-600471 048-600472 123 Sanabel Company Seed Production Attyia - Minia Reda Mostafa Abdel Zaher 086-388574 Espex Seed 124 Agricultural Co-op for Crops Production Al Oksor Tower Building – Gomhoria Mostafa Abo Rayia Kotry 040-3331597 & Marketing - Gharbia Sq. - 040-3407656 Tanta 125 Kasen Green Company for Agricultural 16 Abdel Aziz St. Attaba Sq. - Cairo El Sayed Kamel Khalifa Harb 3343045 Development 3347903 126 North & South Company for Agricultural 25 A Fayrouz Tower - Obour Buildings Abdel Hamed Abdel Aziz 4032833 Services & Development Salah Salem Road 127 El Amana Company (Magdy Mansour Saleh) Dayer Nahya St. Shobra Abakhoum – Magdy Mansour Saleh 048-539825 Quisna 048-538336 Menofyia 128 Abdel Raouf Hamada Company & Co Agricultural Road – Shabour – Kom Mamdouh Shoura 045-615325 Hamada 129 Ekhwan Farghal Company For Trade 41 Eid St. Industrial Location – Mehala Yaser Abdel Hakeem Ammar 040-2440868 Kobra 040-2235582 130 Modern Egypt Company for Idariah Building – New Bani Seoif Mohamed Ehab El Refaiy 082-2245376 Agricultural Development 131 Yaser Mashhout Ahmed Arafa Etrees – Imbaba - Giza Abdel hay Abdel Meged Anbar 8761192 (Arafa for Supplies) 132 Reyadah Arabia for Seed Industry 23 Ebn Batota St. Second Section - Mohamed Safwat Yosuf 050-2331371 & Production (Asco) Mansoura Al Ghar 133 Al Amir for Trade & Distribution Shobra Rees – Shobra Kheet - Behera Abdel Monsef Abdel Maksoud 045-5380005 (Green Hand) Edrees 134 El Motaheda Company 3 Seef El Islam St. Shobra Kheet - Ibrahem Abdel Salam 045-3800869 for Agricultural Production Behera 135 El Shaimaa for Import & Export KM # 58 Agricultural Road – Waiel Farouk Tawfik 045-3346847 (Laila Haggag & Co) Damanhour Behera 136 Samira Semary Tawfik (Mon Trade) 7 Hamadan St. Morad St. Giza Sq. - Giza Reyad Seleem Hanna 5725349

137 El Alamiah Company for Trade & KM # 92 Agricultural Road – Zebeda Yaser Maghawry Badredin 045-3432961 (Ahmed El Naggar) Tawfekia – Etay Baroud 138 King Seed Company Farrag Tower – Gamal Eldin Afghany St. Abdel Razik Metwaly Bashar 050-2358535 for Agricultural Seed Production Mansoura 139 Al Ahlyia Company Nosa El Gheet – Aga - Daqahlia Ahmed Mamon Mansour Ebid 050-6450561 for Agricultural Supplies & Productions 140 Al Masriah Company for Seed & 54 Mosadak St. Dokky - Giza Samy Mohamed Shenawy 7622286 7492010 141 Amana Seed (Madeha Abdel Moaty & Co) Kafr El Masharka Sedy Salem – Kafr El Mohamed Mohamed Yahia 047-2704143 Shekh Ahmed 142 Modern Company for Seed Producing Zeen El Abedeen St. Ahd Gedeed St. Saleh Ahmed Sayed 086-7710811 & Marketing (Modern Seed) Samalot 086-7700440 143 Egyptian Agriculture Agency 9 Gamaa St. – Behind Horticulture Aly Salem Mostafa 5686373 Reserachs 5731138 144 Agro Alex Company Negela – Kom Hamada - Behera Salem Saied Salem Seleia 045-3770092 045-3770399 145 Quality Seed Production Section 9 Gamaa St. Onion Research Inst. - ARC Dr. Ahmed Kamal Kafoury 5680409 Onion Research Inst. - ARC 146 Shema Seed (Reda Sabry) for Seed Production Building # 19 Obour Buildings - Ramadan Ahmed Mosa 050-2212469 Mansoura 050-2346138 147 Dina Company for Agricultural Investments KM # 80 Desert Road – Dina Lands Magdy Farag Abdel Wahed 048-2600991 992 , 993 148 (El Araby Seed) El Sayed El Badawy Sons 23 July St. Sherbeen - Dakahlia Mevat El Sayed El Badawy 050-770300 Company – Deer Shama 149 Middle Egypt Company for Seed Production 5 Abo El Fetouh St. Mermah Location Mostafa Shaker Hemeda 0122150483 (Pure Seed) Bani Souif 150 Amana Company for Agricultural Kafr El Eis – Kobry Tawfikia - Etay Gomaa Mohamed Hasan 045-5615632 20 Development (Gomaa Behwashy & Co) COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

No. Company Name Post Address Responsible Person Telephone

151 Sengenta Agro Company 4 Yanboa St. Dokky - Giza Hosam Din Hanafy Mahmoud 7607851

152 Agricultural Development Company 1 Shahid Hamdy Hamdy Abo El Seoud Mohamed Ezzat Abdel Hady 5861271 for Export & Import (Agro Land) 153 Ahram Company for Seed Production Teraa St. Shobra Rees – Shobra Kheet Salah Mohamed Ahmed ElArif 045-3804957 (Abo Zaid El Holehly) Center Behera 154 Aal Shama Company for Seed Trade Building 3 1 – Ahmed Maher Buildings Hanafy Nour Din Hanafy 5113737 (Khaled Shama & Co) Bab El Khalk - Cairo 155 Agro Food Company for Animal Production 3 Ghazaly St. – Mosadak St. Dokky - Hashim Mohamed AbdelRazik 045-2350189 Giza 156 Ever Green Company for Foods Industries Dima Abo El Ghar Road– Kafr Zayat - Ahmed Ibrahem Mohamed 040-2570342 Gharbia Taha 157 El Shaimaa Company for Import & Export Building # 14 - Aseed City - Sammoha Mamdouh El Sayed El Mesarea 012-2432786 (El Sayed El Mesarea) 158 Seed Productions Quality Project 1 Nady El Said – Dokky Dr. Salah Din Mohamden 3363359 Vegetables Research Institute 159 Agricultural Reclamation Co-op Behind Agricultural Museum - Dokky Abdel Fattah Afifi Mohamed 3372751 - Giza 160 El Baraka Seed Company Bany Ahmed Village Gharbia - Minia Salah Din Ahmed Mohamed 086-2201341 for Seed Production 161 Libra Seed Company El Kateba Village – Belbees - Sharkia Ibrahem Mohamed Saad 055-2880115 Hashem 055-2880116 162 Agricultural Productions Center Faculty of Agr., Assuit Univ. – Field Safwat Shahen Mohamed 088-2924462 Section 088-2411649 163 H A Company (Soltan Farm) 35 Ahrar St. Dokky Rizk Abdel Maksoud Mohamed 02-7607644

164 Shanan Seed (Yaser Shanan & Co) Lewaa Ahmed Zomor St. Nahia - Giza Saeid Abdel naby Ibrahem 03-3260002

165 El Alamia Company for Agricultural KM # 90 Desert Road – Nobaria - Kamal El Sayed Gaber 012-2285222 Development & Land Reclamation Behera 166 Agricultural Co-op for Potatoes, Vegetables & Agricultural Road – Kafr Zayat - Gharbia Ramzy Fawzy Amr 040-2546764 Fruits Production & Marketing 167 El Mostakbal Company for Seed Abo Nour Din Village – Belkas - Ibrahem Ismaiel Awad 050-2220014 (Ibrahem Awad) Dakahlia 010-5204906 168 El Marwa Company KM # 94 Agricultural Road – Zebeda Mohamed El Sayed Shanshory 045-3432961 for Agricultural Crops Cooling & Freezing - Etay 169 El Khateeb Company for Seed Village # 4 – 10 000 - Nobaria Mahmoud Abdel Wahhab 045-2371655 Production & Trade Mosa 170 Central Co-op for Agricultural Reclamation Mohamed Hemeed St. Awqaf Buildings Maher Mohamed Abdallah 082-2317379 Bani Sewif 171 Rania Mohamed Kamal Serawa – Ashmoun - Menofia Khaled Abdel Hakem Kamal 012-1023627 (El Fayrouz for Seed Trade) 172 Onest Seed (Magdy Mansour Saleh) 2nd Building - 7th Section - 6th Mohamdy Mansour Saleh 048-2538336 Location 6th October City 173 El Watania for Agricultural Development Serseka Village – Kom Hamada - Behera Abdel Hamed Mohamed 045-3688785 (Abdel Hamed Mohamed Qandeel) Qandeel 174 El Behous Company for Agricultural Development Khatatba – Agricultural Research Co- Khaled Hasan Khaled 010-1580261 op Land 175 El Shark for Seed Importing & Distribution Badrawy St. – Gesr St. – Qebaa City - Ahmed Abdel Tawwab Ahmed 6972791 (Aly Hasan Mansour) Cairo 6986125 178 Central Administration for Seed 8 Gamaa El Kahera St. Eng. Roshdy Hassib 5694060 Production (CASP) Giza - Cairo 5725986 « Under Privatization Programme « - CASP Produces 100% of Cotton seed, of all Cereals,25.50% Legume Seeds used in the Egyptian Agriculture. Cotton , Cereals , Legume , Oil and Onion Seeds

Source: CASC, 2006

CASC is the technical secretariat for the seed council, the advisory body on seed related issues, and participates in all technical seed committee activities, where CASC offers advise, prepares studies and recommendations and performs the follow – up of recommendations of such bodies. 21 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

In addition to technical secretariat to the Agricultural Crop Variety Registration Committee, CASC has established variety register and maintains the national list of registered varieties.

3.3.2 The Central Administration for Seed Production (CASP)

CASP administers and advises ARC on requirements for foundation class seeds, plans, supervises and contracts with seed growers to multiply targeted other certified seed classes, CASP also coordinates seed conditioning among seed conditioning facilities to minimize mechanical contamination of seeds and to avoid the excessive seed transportation costs. CASP is head quartered in Giza, with offices in the governorates. The quantities of the major field crop certified seeds from different sources (CASP & Seed Companies) are shown in the following table:

TABLE 7 Distributed Certified Seed Quantities from Major Field Crops, 2005

Crop Distributed Quantity (ton) Wheat 64 272 Rice 28 438 Faba bean 2493 Maize 17 843 Sorghum 594 Soy bean 177 Cotton 20 069 Berseem Clover 339

Source: CASC, 2006

3.3.3 Seed Companies

Seed production companies are specializing mainly in seed of hybrid maize, sorghum, sorghum x sudan grass forages, sunflower, some kinds of vegetable seeds, and seeds of berseem clover and alfalfa. Seed producing firms include special units have been established within the ARC to deal with the breeder and foundation seed classes in self – pollinated crop varieties and hybrids. A recent list of largest seed production companies is shown in Table 6. Seed companies also include seed import, export, and trade. Seed Imports and Exports are shown in table 8.

TABLE 8 Seed Imports and Exports 2001: 2005 (ton)

Seed imports Crop 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Field Crops 1 495 1 518 1 223 1 682 1 689

Vegetables 291 303 262 280 219

Seed exports Crop 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Field Crops 11 225 12 511 7208 12 851 11 598

Vegetables 650 447 1013 712 681

Source: CASC, 2006

22 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

3.4 Breeding Programmes

The Agricultural Research Center (ARC):

ARC has 17 research institutes, Labs and support organizations. It has the primary responsibility for crop improvement research, cultivar development, and testing throughout the country. The ARC manages through special units the production of Breeder and Basic seed classes. ARC acquired six seed conditioning lines which are intended mainly for the conditioning of basic seed, but are also used to condition certified seeds on a charge per weight basis. ARC has a network of 10 Regional Research Stations with 37 specialized Stations, and 21 experimental units for crop experimentation on the village level nationwide . ARC is supervising and leading 6 field crops Breeding Programmes on the national level, namely: 1. National Programme for Cereal Crops 2. National Programme for Fibre Crops 3. National Programme for Oil and Onion Crops 4. National Programme for Legume and Fodder Crops 5. National Programme for Sugar Crops 6. National Programme for Horticultural Crops

There are some very limited plant breeding activities in the National Research Center (NRC), agricultural colleges and on a some what larger scale in seed companies specially for hybrids since 1988, 308 varieties from 28 field crops, and 629 varieties from 32 vegetable crops, have been registered under the supervision of the ARC. Variety registration includes the variety testing for not less than 3 years for variety identification (DUS), and variety performance (VCU) before release. The majority of field crops varieties and to a lesser extent vegetable varieties have been developed by the ARC Research Institutes. The number of registered varieties is shown in Table No. 9 :

23

ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

Tot. Priv. 33

Total

Gov. 22 77 22 33 246 13 13

Tot. Priv. 1 111819

2006

Gov. 1133 2266

Tot. Priv. 1 527 22 7613

2005

Gov. 1 1 10 10 2 2 16 16

Tot. Priv.

2004

Gov.

Tot. Priv.

2003

Gov.

Tot. Priv.

2002

Gov.

Tot. Priv.

2001

Gov.

Tot. Priv.

2000

Gov.

Tot. Priv.

1999

Gov. 11336235771412113 44853812542167

Tot. Priv. 33

88/1998 Gov. 516 5522 99 22 2222 22 33 729729 22246 11 22 11 115166612 22224 11 225 11112131023 527 5 11 117916 2222131212 22 13 113 1 13 13 11111818 13 lineseed) Total 105 20 125 Hyb. Hyb. Hyb Hyb Hyb Crop 6 Rows 6 lines White 2 Rows Rows 2 lines W. Yellow Single Y. Single W. Double Y. Hyb Double Y. Way. W. 3 Way. 3 1 Alfalfa 2 Barley 3 Berseem 4 Chickpea 5 Cotton 6 bean Broad 7 Flax( 8 Lentil 9 Maize 24 10 Millet 2 2 TABLE 9: 9: TABLE Numbers of Registered Varieties 1988-2006 Varieties Numbers of Registered Source: CASC, 2007 Source: COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Tot.

Priv. Total 22 11 11 11 11 33 66 11 99 44 66 11

Gov. 22 22

Tot.

Priv. 11549 2006

Gov.

Tot.

Priv. 2005 22 66 Gov. 22 2810

Tot.

Priv. 2004

Gov. 1122 1414

Tot.

Priv. 2003 11 Gov. 4262 21051554924662308

Tot.

Priv. 2002

Gov.

Tot.

Priv. 2001

Gov.

Tot.

Priv. 2000

Gov.

Tot.

Priv. 1999

3257421 11Gov. 336235771412113 44853812542167

Tot.

Priv. 88/1998

Gov. 538 Crop Total 187 35 222 14 5 19 12 3 15 13 7 20 12 1 13 Sudangrass 81912300 6 4152 2617 8215971121310106 1112120141 28 Canola 1 1 1 1 27 Munge bean 1 1 26 Bonavist,lablab 1 1 25 Gouar 1 1 24 cowpea F. 1 1 23 Onion 4 4 22 1 Peanut 1 2 2 21 Sesame 1 1 5 5 20 Teosinte 1 1 19 Sugar beet 19 19 3 3 18 Sugar Cane 8 8 Hard 3 3 1 1 Sf117 33 2211 2929 17 Wheat Soft161677 16 Sunflower 7 7 1 15 Soybean 6 6 14 Sudangrass 1 1 13 X Sorghum 12 Sorghum 5 5 10 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 7 8 15 Previous11Rice8833 105 20 125 25 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT ot. Total 10 1 11 2 10 1 02 2 10 1 60 6 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 50 5 30 3 10 1 20 2 20 2 2006 01111 2 20230 3 2005 606 10010 2004 04403301142428 011 02201111 011 11 2 2003 2002 011 011 01010 101 2001 101 101 101 022066 01616022 04747 01102201103305501103030 2000 1999 033077017170880770131304414596372 202202 202 011022022011011055011 12425 022011099044 0660660111107070 5 88/1998 066011011033044011022044 02222 202202 101 055011022088 02201101102020 Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. Tot. Gov. Priv. T Total 41 274 315 4 21 25 10 19 29 4 75 79 3 38 41 0 17 17 0 68 68 6 50 56 4 31 35 68 561 629 (Veg.) Crop 1 Bean 3 13 16 1 3 4 1ka101 21Okra 22 Lettuce 0 8 8 2 Cucumber 8 32 40 23 Cabbage 1 1 2 24 Cauliflower 1 0 1 25 Carrot 0 8 8 3 Garlic 1 0 1 26 Turnip 1 0 1 27 beat Table 0 2 2 4 Karcade (Rama) 1 0 1 28 bean Faba Tmt2805710333 011110551011098108 56Tomato24850055731002323033 Potato Sweet 4 0 4 29 Thyme 7 Squash 30 Camomile 31 Dill 32 Tar Pa 2578Peas 011 011 27 9 9 Cowpea 10 Watermelon 1 11 12 11 Melon 0 20 20 0 1 1 12 Cantaloupe 13 Radish 3 0 3 14 Spinach 1 0 1 15 Eggplant 0 14 14 0 3 3 16 Pepper 0 31 31 7oao770409909907702201919010100130130 17Potato07070044 18 Artichocke 2 0 2 19 Asparagus 2 0 2 26 20 Strawberry 5 0 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 4 THE STATE OF USE

To improve and upgrade agricultural productivity, the Egyptian agriculture is relying on using the high yielding varieties (HYV) from different field and horticultural crops to meetthe requirements of the large population of Egypt, the following table shows some examples from different field crops used in the Egyptian agriculture which developed mostly by the ARC and some seed companies.

TABLE 10 Examples from HYV of Field Crop Varieties developed by ARC & Seed Companies in Egypt

Crop Release Varieties Alfalfa Nubaria1, Sewa1, Giza1, Ismailia1, Baladi1, Siriver Barley - 6 raws Giza125, Giza126, Giza123, Giza124, Giza129, Giza130, Giza131, Barley - 2 raws Giza127, Giza128 Berseem Clover Giza6, Giza10, Gemmeiza1, Serwe, Sakha4, Hilali, Baladi1, Khadarawy Baladi, Fahl Baladi, Kahra Chickpea Giza195, Giza531 Cotton Giza45 (Extra Long & Fine), Giza70(Isis) Extra Long, Giza76 Extra Long, Giza77 Extra Long, Giza84 Extra Long, Giza75 (Lotus) Long Staple, Giza81 Long Staple, Mobarak93 (Giza85) Long Staple, Giza86 Long Staple, Dandara Long Staple, Giza80 Long Staple, Giza83 Long Staple, Giza89 Long Staple, Giza87 Extra Long, Giza88 Extra Long, Giza 90, and (Long Staple) Giza 91 Sesame Giza32, Taqah1, Taqah2, Taqah3, Tushka1, Shandawil3

Faba Bean Giza674, Giza429, Giza643, Giza714, Giza716, Giza717, Giza461, Yousef El Seddik, Giza2 improved, Giza3 improved, Giza40, Giza843, Misr1, Sakha1, Nubaria1, Misr2, Sakha2 Peanut Giza5, Giza6, Asmalia1 Flax - Linseed Giza7, Giza8, Sakha1, Sakha2 Lentils Giza370, Giza4, Giza51, Sinai1 Maize - White Single Single Cross10, Single Cross9, Single Cross103, Giza122, Giza123, Watania4, Giza124, Giza129, Egaseed13 Bashair, Egas18 Crosses Nagah, MHTC-021W Hy Tech (2010), HYTECH 2030, 8 K 30 ( HW 1268 X ), X130 AW, 30 k 09 (S.C. x 1311 TW ), 30 k 17 ( S.C x 1351GW), 6 M 30 ( PW 1268 Z ), Gemiza 11, Gemiza 12, Gemiza 13, Gemiza 14, Gemiza 15, Fine Seeds 101, GZ 28 SC (W), MHTC-109W Maize - Yellow Single Giza151, Giza152, Giza153, Giza154, Giza155, Giza156, Giza161, Pioneer3062, Pioneer3080, Drakhma, HYTECH 3040, Crosses Shams ( MHTC - 134 y ), 30 M 84 ( My 1267 X ), SC 97 G 142, 30N11, MHTC-102Y Maize - White Double Hyb. 73120 – Fattah, Double Hybrid 204, Double Hybrid 215, Double Hybrid 217, Double DK 2771 – Gawaher, Taba Crosses Maize - Yellow Double Hediah DK – 2770, Amoun - Hyb 73115, Dahab - Hyb 124062 Crosses Maize - White Three-way Hyb. 310, Neima - DK 2147, Hyb. 320, Hyb. 321, Hyb. 322, Watania1, Pioneer3057, Nefertiti3, Pioneer3052, Giza323, Crosses Giza324, Baraka, P30P09, Shorok ( Eqaseed 301 ), Gemiza 311, Gemiza 314, Gemiza 325, Gemiza 326, Gemiza 317, MHTC- 301W Maize - Yellow Three-way Giza351, Giza352, Sultan, Kareim, 9p 30 ( AW 1287 X ), Shorok ( Eqaseed 301 ), Giza311, Giza314, Giza325, Giza326, Crosses Giza327, YT-0002, YT-0005 Millet Shandawil1, Shandawil2 Rice Giza181 - Long Grain, Giza175, Giza176, Giza177, Giza178, Sakha101, Sakha102, Yasmin Masry, Sakha103, Sakha104, Giza182, Giza 176, Hy 1, Black Sorghum Pioneer P. 8319, Hyb. - 858F, PGS - 320 ( Meina ), PGS - 17 ( Horus ), Hybrid1, Hybrid2, Giza15, Dorado, Giza113, Speed Feed SV – 10017, 840 F, Hyb. Shandaweel 6, Line Sterile 6, MHTGS 91018, MHTGS 03 Sorghum X Sudan Grass Hyb.107, Hyb.402, Hyb.102, Hyb. – 407, SX 17 Fodder Hyb. Sorghum, Mabrouk 79, Baladi1, Hyb. SX 121 - Extra - Feed Soybean Giza21, Giza82, Giza35, Giza83, Giza22, Giza111 Sunflower Hyb. G101, Hyb. 6480, Vidok - 3 way hyb., Euroflor - 3 way hyb., Pioneer Hyb. 6661, Hysun36, Hysun333, Hybrid MHTF 5001, Sakha 53, Giza 102 Bread Wheat Giza162, Giza163, Giza164, Sakha92, Gemmeiza2, Giza165, Sahil1, Sids1, Sids2, Sids3, Sids4, Sids5, Sids6, Sids7, Sids8, Sids9, Sakha8, Sakha61, Sakha69, Giza167, Sakha93, Gemmeiiza5, Giza168, Gemmeiza7, Gemmeiza9, Giza 170, Gemmeiza 10, Sakha94, Sakha 69 Durum Wheat Beni-Suif1, Sohag2, Sohag3, Beni-Suif3, Giza 85/37 Sugar Cane Giza47, Giza96, Giza368, C9, Giza68, Giza393, Lola, Phil8013 27 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

Crop Release Varieties Sugar Beet (Del 939) Monte Biance, Farida, Univers, Hilleshog poly 1, Nejma, Hilma, M. Oscor poly, Panther, Gazelle, Marathon, Toro, Beta poly4, Alexa, Kawemira, Top, Pleno, Ras poly, Sofie, Gloria, Dema Poly, Athos Poly, Teri Mung bean Kawmi1 Onion Giza6 Improved, Giza20, Line1, Line1 Sterile, Giza white, Giza Balck

Source: CASC, 2006 Most of vegetable seeds used in the Egyptian Agriculture are exoticed and mostly imported from foreign companies specially the hybrid seeds. There are some crop seeds locally multiplied depending on the old local varieties such as berseem clover, alfalfa, and many of the fodder crops specially in the remote areas.

28 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 5 THE STATE OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES, TRAINING AND LEGISLATION

5.1 National Programmes

5.1.1 The National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources of Egypt

The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation activated the already existed Plant Genetic Resources Programme since 1994. According to the Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003, the National Gene Bank was established to be responsible for the conservation and maintenance of plant, animal as well as micro-organisms genetic resources in the Agricultural Sector. As a top priority, MALR focuses on preserving the national genetic resources and making them available for sustainable agricultural development without compromising biodiversity and biosafety requirements.

Purpose: t
Conserve the national wealth of plant and animal genetic resources either in their natural habitat (in situ) or outside the natural habitat (ex situ); t
Improve the productivity of the agricultural crops by providing the required genetic resources which contain the stress tolerance gene markers and which suit the old and new reclaimed lands; t
Enhance the cooperation between the NGB and the other concerned institutions such as universities, research centers and private sector; and t
Support the international cooperation by the implementation of the treaties and regional and international conventions which regulate the maintenance and utilization of the genetic resources and biodiversity.

NGB Objectives and Strategy: t
Collecting and conserving plant and animal genetic resources, as well as microorganisms to protect these biological resources from erosion and extinction. t
Exchanging information concerning the genetic resources with the local and international gene banks. t
Identifying the core-collection of genetic resources which can be utilized in both public and private research and breeding programmes. t
Develop research plans for collection of genetic resources and assure the safety of these resources and to provide the different breeding programmes with the required genetic materials and relative information. t
Characterization of the collected genetic resources. t
Strengthen the international cooperation in the field of genetic resources. t
Enhancing public awareness of the genetic resources maintenance to protect the national resources against erosion and regulate the utilization of such resources. t
Participating in exploration missions intended for collecting the genetic resources from their native habitat. t
Participating in developing of testing, production and certification guidelines and regulations for new plant varieties and animal breeds; t
Facilitating the exchange of the genetic resources and implementation of the intellectual property legislations concerning the national genetic resources; t
Documenting the Egyptian genetic resources at the NGB database.

29 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

The Expected Benefits from the NGB t
Protection of the national heritage of plant and animal genetic resources from erosion and piracy. t
Maintenance of local plant varieties and animal breeds from extinction. t
Improvement of the productivity of the cultivated varieties to achieve the national food security throughout maintaining biodiversity and providing the agricultural system with outstanding genetic resources which tolerate the different prevailing environmental stresses (biotic and abiotic); t
Easy access to any required information data from the data base. t
Enhancing the international cooperation within the signed agreements which assure the fair benefit sharing and genetic material exchange. t
Implementing the intellectual property rights to protect the national genetic resources.

5.1.2 Other National Programmes:

The following Institutions are partially involved in plant genetic resources activities: 1. Agriculture Research Center (ARC), MALR is the main institution involved with PGR activities (collection, evaluation, conservation and improvement of crop varieties). 2. Desert Research Center (DRC), MALR (mainly involved with desert crop plants). 3. National Research Center (NRC), Ministry of Scientific Research (mainly involved with medicinal plants and with some of the field crops). 4. 17 agricultural faculties and 15 faculties of science of different Egyptian universities

5.2 Achievements of the NGB

5.2.1 Implementation of the National Agricultural Sustainable Development Plan

1. According to the visibility studies which were conducted by international donors, the cost of establishing a national facility for the conservation of the plant genetic resources was very high. Table 11 summarizes the estimated cost, implementation period and the cold storage capacity as planned in the two major studies of GEF-UNEP (1997) and GTZ (1999).

TABLE 11 The Estimated Cost and Implementation Period of the NGB and other studies

Project Capacity Estimated Implementation Percentage of Foreign Implement Investments Period Investments Ratio L.E. GEF-UNEP 45 000 69 000 000 5 Years 6.5% 0.0 1997

GTZ 45 000 110 000 000 5 Years 4% 0.0 1999 NGB 200 000 4 610 000 9 month 100% 100 % 2003

2. The previous studies designed their facilities for storage capacity of 105 m3 of cold storage and for 45 000 accessions. 3. The NGB cold stores now have 335 m3 cold storage capacity which can include up to 200 000 accessions. These are divided among three cold stores for short, medium (active collection) and for long term storage (core collection).

30 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

TABLE 12 Capacity of NGB Cold Stores t
Short Term (3-5 years)

Cold Store No. of Accessions Tissue Culture Samples +5°C 16 960 1 225

-5°C 24 250

-20°C 37 500

Total 78 710 1 225 t
Medium Term (7 years)

Cold Store No. of Accessions Tissue Culture Samples +5°C 31 125 2 450

-5°C 48 500 -20°C 47 825 Total 127 450 2 450 t
Long Term (10 years)

Cold Store No. of Accessions Tissue Culture Samples +5°C 45 830 2 450 -5°C 66 000 -20°C 57 850 Total 169 680 2 450

4. In addition to savings from the national budget through completing building up and operating the cold stores in 9 months instead of 5 years with much less cost, saving the variability and viability of the national genetic resources stocks were more urgent and critical. In addition to the cold stores, 2 modern greenhouses were built and 5 acre field for regeneration was allocated. 5. Once the NGB becomes functional, it will contribute in elevating the productivity of many crops by providing stress tolerant germplasm to breeding and research programmes. 6. Applying the intellectual property rights legislations will provide protection to the national genetic resources including wild relatives, landraces and local varieties and will help to retrieve the genetic resources from Egyptian origin from other foreign gene banks.

5.2.2 Establishing NGB Facilities

1. Under scientific and technical supervision of the NGB staff , consultants from Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University and the Engineering Dept. in the ARC the Cold Stores, Seed Viability Testing Lab and the seed accessions receiving area in the main building, in addition to, two greenhouses were constructed and operated in 9 months. The planning, implementation and monitoring were fully carried out by the national expertise of the NGB staff, consultants and the contracting companies. 2. The cold stores building and greenhouses were provided by alternative power supply, security and safety systems. 3. Tissue culture, cytogenetics, molecular biology and chemical analysis Labs were furnished, equipped and operated also in the 9 months period. 4. The NGB Database was constructed for plant and animal genetic resources in cooperation with the Central Lab for Agricultural Expert Systems (CLAES).

31 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

TABLE 13 Comparison between the NGB planned storage capacity and some other gene banks

Gene Bank Capacity Year of Establishment NGB 200 000 (planned) 2004

Canada 97 000 1970

ICARDA 132 758 1977 CIMMYT 179 998 1973 ICRISAT 113 501 1973

5.2.3 The NGB Activities

Field Crops: t
More than 30 000 accessions were collected till the end of 2006. t
More than 16 000 accessions from the winter and summer crops were regenerated and 13 000 accessions were identified. t
More than 8000 genetic resources were evaluated.

Horticultural Crops: t
80 citrus, 21 olive and 33 grape genetic resources were assessed and described. t
12 banana varieties were collected. t
Assessment of ornamental plant species in the botanical gardens in Cairo and Alexandria. t
Identifying many medicinal, aromatic and neglected native species. t
Collecting of more than 5000 accessions of vegetable, aromatic and medicinal species.

Animal Genetic Resources: t
Collecting blood samples from Saidi buffalo as well as from Parki and Sohagi sheep for fingerprinting. t
Assessment of some local and native breeds of sheep, buffalo and cows. t
Conducting surveys concerning the national breeds nationwide.

Animal Genetic Resources Assessed by NGB

Microbiology Genetic Resources: t
Furnishing and equipmenting the NGB Microorganisms Lab to be functional by mid 2007.

32 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

5.2.4 The NGB consists of the following sections and labs:

1. The Genetic resources conservation section:

a. True Seed conservation which includes: t
Temporary storage (+5 oC). t
Active collection – medium duration storage (-5 oC). t
Base and core collection – long duration storage (-20 oC).

NGB Genetic Resources Storage

b. Tissue culture conservation (for vegetatively propagated genetic resources) c. Conservation in liquid nitrogen (-196 oC) t
Plant tissues for specific horticultural crops t
Animal cells and tissues d. In situ conservation: t
for some fruit crops, ornamental plants and palm trees t
Animal breeds

2. Seed Testing and Regeneration Section: t
Seed viability testing. t
Regeneration and maintenance of genetic resources. t
Preparation of seed samples for conservation.

NGB Seed Viability Test Lab 33 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

3. Evaluation Section: t
Evaluation of different environmental stresses. t
Evaluation of susceptibility to plant diseases and pests.

NGB Wheat Evaluation Field

NGB Soyabean Evaluation Field 34 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

4. Taxonomy Section: t
Collecting genetic resources throughout exploration missions. t
Protectorates (Protected Areas) and Environment. t
Assessment and collection of wild relative plants and participating in the study of utilization of such resources. t
Classification of the collected accessions.

5. Documentation and Information Section: t
Data base preparation for plant, animal and micro-organisms genetic resources according to the international norms. t
Provide the plant and animal breeders with the required basic information for the development of new plant varieties and animal breeds.

6. Chemical Analysis Lab: t
Assessment of technological and nutritive quality of the collected accessions. t
Active ingredients with economic importance.

NGB Chemical Analysis Lab

7. Molecular Genetics Lab: t
Fingerprinting and mapping of genetic resources. t
Identification of the gene markers responsible for stress tolerance and quality attributes.

NGB Molecular Biology Lab

35 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

8. Tissue Culture Lab: t
To multiply and conserve vegetatively propagated genetic resources and conserving tissues from some specific crops.

NGB Tissue Culture Lab

9. Cytogenetics Lab: t
Study the different agronomic a morphological characteristics of the collected accessions to conclude the degree of genetic stability. t
Investigate the chromosomal maps of wild plants, animals and landraces which can be utilized in the different breeding programmes.

36 NGB Tissue Cytology Lab COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

10. NGB Farm: t
Regeneration of the genetic resources in the NGB farm. t
Conservation for some horticultural crops and plants that require special conditions.

NGB Identification Field

11. NGB Greenhouses: t
Regeneration of some horticultural crops and adaptation for the plants produced by the tissue cultural lab under specific condition.

NGB Greenhouses 37 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

12. Establishing NGB Herbarium.

13. Establishing Small Botanical Garden.

5.3 Training, Publications and Conferences

t
The NGB is providing local and overseas training for its employees. 2 officers have got long term training in the IPK, Germany. Many other officers already are post graduate students for the MS’s and PhD’s degrees. t
During the three workshops which have been conducted in the NGB the stakeholders got training on the information sharing system of the GPA of the FAO. t
There is continuous training in the NGB regarding technical, scientific and database issues. t
The NGB is conducting training courses for university students and specialists from genetic resources programmes of other countries in the region. t
The NGB is organizing visits to genetic resources experts on the national, regional and international levels. t
There is monthly meeting for the NGB departments to present their achievement reports. t
The NGB is issuing a quarterly report for the activities of the period. This report is distributed among all the concerned agencies, in addition to annual report. t
The NGB is conducting genetic resources collection missions to the targeted rich areas in genetic resources (30 collecting missions were accomplished during the last period). t
The First Conference of the National Gene Bank was held in September 2005 with participation from genetic resources experts from the Ministry, Universities, Research Centers. The International Organizations (FAO, IPGRI, ICARDA) and from some countries (USA and Canada). t
The delegates and participants of the conference recommended the support and appreciation to the NGB activities to protect the national heritage of the genetic resources and biodiversity of Egypt. t
The Second Conference will be held at the end of 2007. It is planned to present the NGB activities, in addition to the research papers focusing on different departments activities and research work.

5.4 Legislative Frame Work

t
The National Gene Bank is conducting its mandate within the following legislative framework: t
Law No. 53 of 1966 which governs the production, certification, import, distribution and registration of seeds. The government controls these activities in order to make sure that farmers are getting a good quality of seeds. t
Law No. 102 of 1983 concerning the establishment and management of natural protected areas (Protectorates). t
Law No. 82 of 2002 which regulate the intellectual property rights for plant varieties and local genetic resources utilization and protection (Chapter 4). t
Prime Minister Decree No. 1366 of 2003 executing the law no. 82 of 2002. t
Ministerial Decree No. 1920 of 2003 establishing the National Gene Bank of Egypt. t
Ministerial Decree No. 67 of 2005 nominating the heads of NGB departments. t
Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2005 concerning the conservation of landraces and local varieties which are not qualified for registration and recording them in the NGB records. t
Ministerial Decree No. 862 of 2005 which regulate and assign the NGB to be the national agency responsible for implementation of the national programme for genetic resource. t
Ministerial Decree No. 1196 of 2005 about the role, regulations, and the formation of the National Campaign for collecting and maintaining the Egyptian genetic resources. t
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, MALR has appointed the National Gene Bank as the National Focal Point and to represent MALR in the International Organizations concerning genetic resources and to represent the Ministry in implementing the Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA, and to coordinate the activities of plant genetic resources, breeding programmes, and seed supply system in Egypt in preparing GPA report of Egypt. t
The NGB has prepared a protocol for genetic resources exchange to conserve genetic resources from research, 38 breeding organizations and from individuals. COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 6 THE STATE OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Egypt has been a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD on June 1992 and ratified it on June 1994, and to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture since August 2002 and was ratified in 2004. Treaty sets guidelines for the process of collecting, identifying, evaluating, maintaining and documenting the plant genetic resources. It also defines national obligations for the sustainable use of those resources by each contracting party. The NGB represents Egypt in the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, ICARDA and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, IPGRI. Egypt is implementing the treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA which applies to 35 crops and 29 forages and assure the conservation and sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use. Egypt recognizes “the sovereign rights of the State over its own plant genetic resources for food and agriculture”. Egypt respects the Farmers’ Rights in obtaining and using seeds from their own farms for cultivation for self pollinated crops. The “Multilateral System for Access and Benefit-Sharing” shall be respected according to the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) of FAO when it is finalized. Efforts are paid to retrieve the genetic resources from Egyptian origin from other foreign gene banks and international research centers. The NGB retained the genetic resources from Egyptian origin from the foreign gene banks to be added to the Egyptian collection in the NGB. The President of the NGB Represents the Near East Region in the Government Body for the implementation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA Treaty. MALR has appointed the President of the NGB as the Focal Point and Coordinator of the genetic resources, breeding, and seed supply systems in Egypt.

39 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

CHAPTER 7 ACCESS TO PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, SHARING OF BENEFITS ARISING OUT OF THEIR USE, AND FARMERS’ RIGHTS

Egypt is implementing the Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA which applies to 35 crops and 29 forages and assure the conservation and sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, PGRFA and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits rising out of their use. Egypt recognizes “the sovereign rights of the State over its own plant genetic resources for food and agriculture”. Egypt respects the Farmers’ Rights in obtaining and using seeds from their own farms for cultivation for self pollinated crops. The “Multilateral System for Access and Benefit-Sharing” shall be respected according to the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) of FAO when it is finalized.

40 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 8 THE CONTRIBUTION OF PGRFA MANAGEMENT TO FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Egypt has a strong comparative advantage in the production of fruits and vegetables, cotton and wheat, is moderately competitive in several relatively low water consuming crops (maize, beans, potato, berseem clover, and oil seeds), and has a disadvantage in producing water intensive crops, such as rice and sugar cane. Egypt is aiming to increase the growth rate of the agricultural sector in the coming five years plans from 3.8% to 4%. Using High Yield Varieties, HYV and improved germplasm of plant genetic resources by farmers can contribute in achieving the national development plan. Conservation and maintenance of genetic resources contribute in achieving the food security and help in alleviating poverty and improve the living of the community.

Closing Comment The objectives of the CBD convention are “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies...” Each member – country in the convention is required to “in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities, develop national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”. The sovereign rights of member – countries over their natural resources are recognized as referred to in text “recognizing the sovereign rights of states over their natural resources, the authority to determine access to genetic resources rests with the national governments and is subject to national legislation”

41 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

CONCLUSION

The role of biodiversity and the importance of its preservation is an outstanding issue for long-term food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development for present and future generations. In this interest genetic resources will be explored preserved, evaluated and made available for plant breeding and scientific purposes. The biological diversity as stated in the Convention on Biological Diversity – CBD encompasses all genes, species and ecosystems. Egypt has been a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Treaty sets guidelines for the process of collecting, identifying, evaluating, maintaining and documenting the plant genetic resources. It also defines national obligations for the sustainable use of those resources by each contracting party. The National Gene Bank of Egypt was assigned to collect, identify, regenerate, evaluate, conserve and document the plant, animal and microorganism genetic resources in the Agricultural Sector in Egypt. The National Gene Bank of Egypt was opened on the sixth of October 2004 to be responsible for the ex situ conservation programme in Egypt and, to be the focal point regarding the coordination between breeding programmes in both public and private sectors, seed supply system and genetic resource programme. MALR appointed the NGB to prepare the Second National Report on the Plant Genetic Resources to be included in the Global Plan of Action of the FAO.

42 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

t
Breeding Field Crops t
Conservation of Genetic Resources. t
Establishment and management of field genebank. t
Flora of Egypt I t
Flora of Egypt II t
Flora of Egypt III t
Flora of Egypt IV t
Flora of Egypt, Check List t
Handbook of Conversation on Biological Diversity. t
International Rules for seed Testing t
National Information Sharing Mechanism on the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action t
Principals and Practices of Seed Storage. t
Rules for Testing seeds t
Species Nomenclature in GRIN Taxonomy t
UPOV - Plant Varity Test Guidelines t
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources For and Agriculture.

43 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

44 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

The National Gene Bank is The Meeting Point of Tomorrow

45 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

46 COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TThhee NNaatttiiioonnaalll GGeennee BBaannkk iiiss TThhee MMeeeettiiinngg PPooiiinntt ooff TToommoorrrrooww

NNaattiiioonnaalll GGeennee BBaannkk aanndd GGeenneettiiicc RReessoouurrcceess 22000077 47